When comparing Smart Launcher 5 vs ADW.Launcher, the Slant community recommends Smart Launcher 5 for most people. In the question“What are the best launchers for Android?”Smart Launcher 5 is ranked 2nd while ADW.Launcher is ranked 11th. The most important reason people chose Smart Launcher 5 is:

One of Smart Launcher 2's ways of keeping things simple is to categorize your apps. The categorization is quite accurate and is very useful once you learn the categories.

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Pros

Pro

Easy App Drawer categorization

One of Smart Launcher 2's ways of keeping things simple is to categorize your apps. The categorization is quite accurate and is very useful once you learn the categories.

Pro

Minimalist, functional design that gives quick access to most important apps

Smart Launcher uses a simple circular layout of apps. It display 6 user-selected apps, date and time and hides everything else from view.

Pro

Lightweight

Smart Launcher uses very little resources which is good for performance and saving battery power.

Pro

Allows accessing everything quickly

Pro

Hides apps easily

If you have tons of apps that clutter your app drawer even after they’ve been categorized, you can choose to hide certain apps from view.

Pro

Easy to set up

As soon as you open Smart Launcher 3 for the first time you will begin the setup process. The steps are easy and you will be up and running in no time.

Pro

Easy theming with icon pack support

Smart Launcher supports using icon packs that are meant for ADW Launcher, Apex Launcher, Nova Launcher, and LauncherPro. You can also change icons on a per-app basis.

Pro

Supports gestures

Pro

Extendable with unread counts plugin

There is an extra download called Plugin Notifications that allows for the function of notification counts on the users app icons in the drawer and shortcuts on the home screen. It is available for free for Smart Launcher 3 and 2.

Pro

Good in both Portrait and Landscape modes

Smart Launcher is designed with both Portrait and Landscape modes in mind, which means no matter the orientation one wants to use it in it adapts well to either.

Pro

Hundreds of downloadable themes

The themes change icons, wallpapers, and colors. Each has its own unique feel, but they all adhere to the same layout.

Pro

Widgets can be used on secondary home screens

There is an optional function (on at stock start) that allows users to set their own widgets on extra home screen pages.

Pro

Folders on main screen provides fast access to apps

Pro

Lock screen is redesigned to provide a cohesive experience

Smart Launcher 3 provides a lock screen which helps to maintain an overall cohesive design on your Android device. It is optional for those that still want to use their stock lock screen.

Pro

Gesture support for quick launching

Gestures can be enabled to perform Smart Launcher actions or just to open apps. Smart Launcher actions include but not limited to: open app drawer, show/hide status bar, show notifications panel, and show toggle panel.

Pro

"Okay Google" support

Users can add "Okay Google" support for voice search by downloading the Plugin Extra plugin from the Play Store.

Pro

One search for everything

One search for apps, contacts and web browsing. Also lets use of Google Now.

Pro

Can be personalized with themes

Smart Launcher 2 offers a selection of themes that change the look of the homescreen.

Pro

Live wallpaper support

Live wallpapers are a special type of wallpaper that is animated. Despite the simple and sleek design of Smart Launcher, you can still make it look and feel great, and live wallpapers are just one in a few ways for doing so.

Pro

HD Wallpaper

Smart Launcher has HD wallpaper. Very impressive

Pro

Great theme support

New themes compatible with ADW Launcher can be downloaded directly from Google Play. The launcher conveniently provides a link from the Themes page in the ADW Settings menu. More impressively, the Themes page provides previews of each theme you've installed on your device, as well as info about whether the theme supports icons, folders, the dock and the wallpaper. However, the best feature, by far, proved to be the ability to mix and match functionalities from a variety of themes to create an entirely custom look. And most of the themes are free.

Pro

Infinite scrolling

Infinite scrolling lets you loop through home screens without requiring you to change direction.

Pro

Tablet support

ADW.Launcher, despite being old and abandoned does work well on a tablet with the icons and everything else scaling correctly.

Pro

Customizable app drawer

The margins, rows and columns of the app drawer also can be modified to fit your preferences. In addition, ADW Launcher supports a variety of visual styles for the app drawer, such as Horizontal Paginated, Vertical New and the standard Ice Cream Sandwich Paginated style.

Pro

Customizable desktop

Adjust the size of the margins or the number of columns and rows on the desktop to a maximum grid size of 10 rows and columns.

Pro

Stock Android experience

Made to look like stock Android with additional features.

Pro

Group app drawers

ADW Launcher allows you to create your own groups in the app drawer.

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Cons

Con

Notifications don't work for some users

Multiple people have reported that app notifications don't work at all with SL2 and they are forced to open each app individually to see if there are changes.

Con

Drains battery faster than stock Android

This may be due to some of the extra features in the app as well as some of the workarounds need for support of things like "Ok Google".

Con

Last updated July 27, 2013

ADW.Launcher has not been updated since 2013, basically meaning it is abandoned.

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